President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has ordered the immediate use of heavy equipment from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)—acquired through World Bank funding but left idle since 2018—for the government’s Kontra Baha Program.
Speaking in Parañaque City on Wednesday, Marcos said the machines, which were supposed to be reserved for “The Big One,” had remained unused in DPWH warehouses for seven years.
“We have discovered that… the equipment has been there since 2018… naka-ano lang, nakatenga lang doon sa warehouse nila… at never nagamit dahil kailangan daw itago for the ‘Big One,’” Marcos said.
The President stressed that the recent widespread floods are already severe enough to warrant action.
“Pero ito na yata ‘yung ‘Big One’ when it comes to flooding. Ano pa ang inaantay natin? Kaya nailabas na natin lahat. Gagamitin natin lahat ‘yan,” he added.
Marcos said the equipment will be utilized for the Greater Metro Manila Waterways Clearing and Cleaning Operations, with help from private sector partners and LGUs.
“This is a long-term solution… something that has been proposed for a long time but somehow has never been implemented—and we are doing it right now,” he said.